My stomach jumps when Chase enters the room. I tell myself to stop watching him, but my eyes are stalkers and I can’t look away. He takes in the room and all the food. Our gazes lock. I’m mid-chew and I just sit there, food forgotten in my mouth, staring at him. I can’t help it. For the thousandth time since he’s been back, my brain and heart war with each other. It’s hard being around him. But there are also flashes where I don’t think about the past, and when that happens, being with him is as easy as breathing. He quiets the doubts—the voices. But I can’t let myself go through this again. I know what’s at the end of the rainbow isn’t a pot of gold—it’s Chase Adams.
A couple of younger guys come in, and Chase’s eyes crinkle as he throws his head back. His throaty laugh causes me to cross my legs against the sudden ache flaring up between them.
I look down at my watch, checking the time. I’m leaving early today to pick up Jax from the airport. He’s coming home for the next two weeks before he has to hightail it back to California. He’s been hard to get ahold of—just a random text here and there—so I haven’t had the chance to warn him about Chase.
Regina was surprisingly understanding about me needing to take a half-day. After my abysmal first impression, things improved once she realized I wasn’t completely inept. She still doesn’t trust the crew on their own, so she’s insisting I wait until she gets here to “keep an eye on things.”
She waltzes through the door right as I check the time again, giving me a passing glance on her way to the office. Okay, I guess that’s my cue. When I throw my trash away, I catch Chase leaning against the wall, watching me. Fire blooms on my cheeks. I hate the way he looks at me. I can’t wait until this renovation is over and I can get some space. Right now, I can hardly breathe.
“Sweetheart.”
“Teeth!” I yell, running around my car to jump in his arms. “You’ve been gone for way too long this time.”
He smiles wide, setting me down and cupping my face in his big palms. “Seems like you survived without me.”
“Barely.” I beam.
Once we settle into the car, he chuckles and pats the dash of my Kia. “I can’t believe this thing’s still running.”
“Hey, you watch your mouth. She’s a labor of love, is all. You’ve done her proud and I ride her gently.” I wink. “So how’s the big time, Mr. Hollywood?”
He sighs, tucking his shaggy blond hair behind his ears. All these years and he’s never changed it. “It’s different than I expected.”
“How so?”
“It’s a bunch of bullshit and red tape. I mean, it takes a lot to rile me up, you know that… but the guy pulling all the strings, James Donahue, is a dick.”
“So you’ve said, a thousand times. Why are you workin’ with him then?”
He grins. “Because he’s the biggest dick in all the land. All I want is to see my cars on the big screen, and he’s the way to make it happen.”
I nod along to his words. “Makes sense. His daughter still followin’ you around like a lost puppy?”
“Yeah.” His smile grows. “She’s not so bad once you get used to her.”
I widen my eyes. “That’s quite the attitude change after spendin’ countless hours and texts complainin’ about her.”
“Yeah, well…” He shrugs. “What’s been going on around here? My mom told me Sam’s having some retirement party? I didn’t even know he was retiring.”
Nerves make my hands grip the steering wheel tight. This is my moment to bring up Chase. “Yep. Life’s full of surprises.”
He raises his brows, his arm resting on his propped knee. “Is it now?”
“Mmhm.”
“What’s up, Lee?”
“Why would you assume somethin’ was up?” My fingers tap on the wheel.
“You’re acting fidgety.”
I make a face. “Fidgety?”
He gives my fingers a pointed glance. “Fidgety.”
I keep my eyes on the road, my bottom lip rubbed raw from how hard I’m biting into it. “Chase is back.”
“What’d you say, sweetheart?”
I glance at him. “I think you heard me.”
“Oh, I did. But I need you to repeat it because I swear you just told me Chase was back.”
“Yep, you heard me alright.”
I peek another look at him, gauging his reaction. Losing Chase was hard on him, too. I’ve always felt a massive amount of guilt over the way that friendship ended. After all, Chase didn’t do him wrong.
His face is serious, frown lines marring his otherwise perfect features. “Has he been bothering you?”
I force out a laugh. “What? No.”
“So, you haven’t seen him?”
“I have,” I say slowly.
“Sweetheart, I’m really trying to keep my patience here, but you’re not making it very easy with your cryptic answers.”
I swallow down the rest of my nerves, feeling them settle in the bottom of my belly. “You know how I told you Tiny Dancers is havin’ a reno done? Well... she hired Sam’s construction company and Chase is the lead on it.”
“He’s working with you?”
I cringe. “Not with me. Just... around me.”
“Big damn difference, Lee.” His arms cross over his chest.
“Look. I didn’t ask for this, alright? But it’s fine. He’s different than he used to be.” Our night at the lake drops in my mind unbidden. I smother the grin that wants to break free when I think about it. The peace I felt. The comfort he gave. Dang it. I don’t want to smile when I think of Chase.
Jax’s eyes are wide, his gaze seeing right through me. “Alina. Tell me you’re not falling for that.”
“Fallin’ for what?”
“For his shit.”
“There’s nothin’ to fall for.”
“Alina.”
“Jax.”
He blows out a breath, rubbing a hand over his face. “I want to talk to him.”
I flip the blinker and focus on turning the wheel. “That’s your prerogative.”
“It is.” He nods. “It’s also my prerogative to kick his ass.”
I snort. “Oh,
